Selector mechanism for multistack weft replenishing looms



ly 3., 9 w. c. HOWE 7 2,379 481 SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR MULTIS'IACK WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Odt. 25; 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 3; 1945. w. c. HOWE 2,379,487 SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR MULTISTACK WEFT REPLENISHING LOdMS Filed Oct. 25, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 fl; n-E fi 15 r A /6 y 1945- w. c. HOWE 2,379,487

SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR MULTISTA CK WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed oi. 2:5, 1944 :s Sheets-Sheet s iWMT Patented July 3, 1945 SELECTOR MECHANISM 'FOR MULTISTACK 1 WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Wilfred Howe, S hrewsbury, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester,

g Mass. a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 23, 1944, Serial No. 559,937 .;f1'71o1ai s.' 21. 139-232) This invention relates to improvements in weft replenishing. looms having apairof stacks of re-' serve bobbins-for each of two shuttles'and it is the general object of the invention-to provide means for drawing bobbins alternately" from eitherpair of'stacks during a succession'of replenishing operations involving the shuttle corresponding thereto] t Theusual multicolorweft replenishing loom is provided with a magazine having a plurality of stacks of reserve bobbins, generally four stacks for four diiferent colors. Certain fabrics, however,require only two colors and as-ordinarily used the magazines of such looms would have only two. stacks filled with bobbins, theothertwo being empty. Mechanism hasalready been proposed toprovide means by which each of two shuttles can be suppliedfrom bobbins drawn from a pair ofstacks, but such mechanism has not provided for the alternate drawing of bobbins from any given pair of stacks ifthe corresponding shuttle remains :active for'along'time." Inthe weaving of certain fabrics, suchas blankets; it is customary to weavewide stripes of I Under. such" condiordinarily, draw bobbins from one of the stacks" of a pair of stacks and then draw the remaining bobbins needed for the weaving of the stripe from the other stack of the pair. The full capacity of the first stack is. therefore not utilized and the .loom will be stopped by the filling stop'm'o tion when the second stack is empty. even though bobbin remain in the first stack. Itis an important object of my presentinvention to assign a pair of stacks to each of two.

shuttles and provide selector mechanism operating in such manner that bobbins for successive transfers from either pair of stacks will'be drawn from alternate stacks of .the pair.

Mechanisms of the general character to which. my invention relates utilize stops for astack selector mechanism one stop for each pair of stacks. {Ifhese stops assume either of two positions, being either outof the path of the selector selector, but the stop is then moved out of the path of the selector and the latter draws the -bobbins for the next and'succeeding-transfer from the other stack of the pair. The first transfer from I the other; stack releasesthe stop so that it triesto' move into the path of the selector but'the' stop is} prevented from so moving because the selector is v in an interfering position. It" is for this reason that all but the first bobbin' will be drawn-from one stack only.

It is another object of mypresent invention to provide means by which the selector will bemoved out of interfering position with respect to both stops on eachreplenishing operation of the loom so that if the stop of either pair of stacks is free to fall into the path of-the selector it will do so. The type ofmagazine to'which my invention more particularly relates employsa horizontally slidable and vertically rockable'selector or color slide which ordinarily has four different operating positions in each of which it registers with' a vertical slide or bobbin releaser corresponding to one of the stacks-of bobbins. The magazine also employs a transferrer arm which rocks at the time of replenishment'to insert the released bobbin. into the exhausted shuttle. It is a further object of my present inventionto'provide mechanism operated by the transierrer arm on each operation thereof to move the selector or color slide to an intermediate position in which it is outof thepath of the falling stops. This intermediate position is preferably midway between the extreme positions which the selector can ashaving a pair of spaced fingers. which register.

in whichcase the latter regiStersWithOne stack Q of the associated pair, or in the-path of;the selector to register the latter'withthe other stack of .the associated pair. If a number of successive transfers occur from the same pair of stacks during-, continued activity. of the corresponding shuttlethe stopwill draw the first; bobbin from sume when registering withthe first and fourth stacks. t v j The selector ordinarily includes in its construction a sliding rod on which is mounted. a casting one at a time with the various bobbin releasers. It is another object of my ,present inventionto provide a. lever pivoted with respect to the magazine and having'.0perative connection .Withthe.

"selector, preferably the rod of the'latter. .The

leveris so constructed that it may assume as many different positions as there are registering ferrer arm. In the particular form of the invention illustrated herein the lever is provided with a pair of studs or lugs which are operated upon 7 by a positioning arm :secured to the .transferrer; one oflthe stack because it i in thepathpfjthe. I! These stud orlugs change thEiI'POSi-fiOIlSJWh-flifi the selector is prevented by means to be described from moving to its rearmost position.

The upper part of the magazine has pivoted thereto a pair of levers 40 and 4| which correspond'respectively to the front pair of stacks H and i2 and the rear pair l3 and i4. Each of the releasers IE to I8 is provided with a hook 42, see Fig. 12 where the hook is shown onreleaser 15, for operating" the corresponding lever. Thus, when the front releaser i is reciprocated vertically its hook passes over the front of lever 40 '1 and'rocks the latter around its pivot 43 in a clockviewed from the center of the loom and having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 2-2, Fig. 1, certain parts beingomitted,

Fig, 3 is a front elevation looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 1, j

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the connection between the shifting shuttle boxes and-the stack selector, together with the springs which assist in positioning the selector.

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing movement of the stack selector from registry with the first, second, third and fourth stacks, respectively, to its mid position,

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing a fabric which may be woven with my present invention,

Fig. 10-is a diagrammatic view showing a series of successive positions which are assumed by the selector when used with my present invention,

Fig. 11- shows the stops-for the selector,

Fig. 12 shows a front elevation of the-upperend. of one of the bobbin releasersand its hook,

Fig. His 2. section on line. 13-43, Fig. 1,

Fig. 14 is a viewsimilar to a portion of Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of the invention,

Fig. 15 is a front elevation looking in the direction of arrow I'5,Fig. 14, and

Fig. 16 is a detailed horizontal section on line l-6-I6 Fig, 14.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown a. 100m frame In on. which is mounted a.- magazine. M: having four bobbin stacks H, l2; l3 and I4' reading from front to back of the loom; or right. to left. These stacksare'associated, respectively, withvertical slides or bobbin releasers l5, 16, (fl and i8 each having upper and lower. operating lugs |=9- and 20, respectively, for cooperation with. the fingers 2| and 22 of 'a color selector designated generally at 23. The selector includes in its construction a rod 24' slidable. in front. and back bearings 25 and 26, respectively, carried by the magazine frame, and a casting 21' on which the fingers 2| and 22 are formed.

A bell cranklever is pivoted to the magazine as at3'l and isact'ed upon by a spring 32 which normally tends to turn thelever ina clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l-. Thelever has-oper ative connection at its upper end with agrooved collar 33 secured toth'e rear end of rod 24 A connector 35is attached as at 35 to lever-'30 and extends to the opposite side of the loom where itis-J attached to shuttle boxes or gang? GL, see Fig; 4. When the gang GL is down to-place shuttie S in box B in its active picking pdsitiorropposite lay L the'conn'e'ctor 35 is slackened' sothat the spring 32 acts. to move the selector 23' forwardly'or to the right as viewed in Fig. 1. When gang GL shifts upwardly to=place boxBZ'in active position so that shuttle S2 can be picked the connector 35.is tightenedv and tend'sto move the selector'23- to its rearmost position. spring 36' in connector 35" is stronger than spring 32 but yields; upon. upward shiftingof the: gang Gb wise direction. If, on the other hand, the second releaser l6 reciprocates its hook engages the rear part of leverlflandrocks the latter in a counterclockwiseldirection. In similar manner, the hooks on the rear releasers l1 and 18 act to rock lever H- in aclockwiseand counter-clockwise direction,

respectively. The position of the selector 23 is determined impart by two stops shown-inFig. 11, one for each of the leversdfl and 41. Front stop 415 has; its upperend formed with a slot 46 which receives a-pin or stud on the forward: end of lever 40. The lower'endof the stop has a head lfi provided: witha short stop-49 and a longstop 50. The stop 50 extends beyond the stop 49 by an amount equal to the shift of the selector 23 from registry withthelugs 19 of bobbin releaser l5 to-the lugs of releaser l6; Insimilar manner, the rear stop 55qhas aslot 56 in the upper end thereof to receive apin 51 on the rear end of lever 41-, and'thelower end of stop55 is provided with a head 58- having a short stop 59: anda long: stop 60;,these-latter stops corresponding to releasers l8 and H, respectively. Thelong stops 50 and 60 are each: movable into and out of the path of movement ofthe-selector 2-3- as the latter slideshorizon-tally. The stops-49'; 50,- 60 and 59 correspond to'registry of the selector respectively with the releasers 15,16, l1 andv l8.

When lever is in the'position shown in Fig. 1 its stop'45: is'raised so that the short stop 49 is in: position to register the selector with bobbin' releaser l-5 but whenleverflfl rocks in theclockwise direction to: its other extreme position due to action: of the hook 4-2 of the releaser I'5 incident toareplenishing operation thegpin' or stud- 4 1 moves downwardly and. stop. tendsby gravity to move into the path of the releaser but will ordinarily be prevented from doing so dueto; the fact that the selector is in an interfering position-d'ue'to its registry'with releaser [5. Sim-- ilarly when lever 41" is in the position shown in Fig.1: the stud: 5-7' is high andholds the stop elevated with the shortstop-5'9 in a position corresponding: to registry of the selector 23 with V the' rearmost bobbin: releaser [8, but when lever l-liis rocked. in av counter-clockwise: direction bythe hook 42 of th'ezrea'rmost releaser I' B the-head 58 attempts to move downwardly by gravity to position the stop- Ell in the path of the selector fonth'e purpose of. registering the latter with the releaser l1; but is: prevented from doing so by the selector;

The matter thusfar described of itself forms" no part of my: present invention and may be madeas set forthprior Patent No; 1,0303748 and copending applications Serial Nos. 501410 In carryin'g my present inventioninto effect I usual rod, a second collar 65 similar to'collar 33 and having groove 66 which receives'a lug or stud 61 carried by a: lever 68. to a stud 69 supported by a plate Ill fixed to the supporting foot H of the magazine M.

The latter is pivoted Magazines of the type set'forth herein ordinarily operate with thread cutting mechanism which need notbe set forth herein but which include in their construction a supporting casting 12. This casting is ordinarily held'by bolts or screws whichv are tapped into the foot H .and in order to make my invention readily applicable to existing magazines I utilize the holes which are already tapped in foot ll. Boltsor screws having heads 16 passthrough the plate 16 and are then tapped into the foot H and pass through the casting 12 to receive nuts Tl. When the-screws 15 are tight and the nuts I1 tightened the plate 10 is securely held to the foot H and usual construction and has On the forward upper end thereof a lug 84 which ha been used heretofore to carry a stop screw to limit downward movement of the transferrer arm.- I utilizethis has an upwardly and normally forwardly extending arm 88 to which is secured a'leaf spring '89-." The leaf spring may be secured as at 80 to:the arm 88 and has its upper and lower ends curved away from the arm 68 as indicatedin'Figi .1. The spring 89 and the lugs 80 and"8l are so 'related that when the arm 88 moves to the left as viewed in Fig. l incident to a replenishingop'eration of the loom the spring wil1-engagefirst one and then both of said studs 80 and BI for the purpose of rocking lever 68 around stud 69 to move the selector to an intermediate po's'i'tion out of interfering position with respect "to 'th long stops and 68. y I

By reason of its connection with thecollarBS lever '68 is free to rock on its pivot'68 asi'the selector moves backwardly and forwardly and in so moving it changes the position of the studs 88 and 8| with respect to" the: positioner 85. When the selector registers with-theffrontbob bin releaser [5 the upper stud-'88 is in foremost I position due to the fact that 'collar 65' is in its extreme front position and has rockedleveri68 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.1 to its frontmost position. Stud 8| is infits rearmcst position under these conditions.- Should a transfer or replenishing operationfoccur' at this time the positioner 8-5 will'move rearwardly or to the left as viewed in Fig. l," and the upperpart of spring 89 willengage the lugtll and rock the lever 68 in a counter-clockwise direction around its pivot 69 from the full line to the dotted line position of Fig. 5. 'During this rocking 'of lever 68 stud 8! due to its forwardrnovement engages the lower end of spring 89, after which the lever 68 will be held .infixed position with the selector 23 in its intermediat'ehrmid-position. ThB

spring is used for the purpose of absorbing shock but is not essential in all forms ofthe invention.

'If the selector registers with releaser. [6 the studs and 8| will be in,the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 6, and a transfer under these conditionswill cause spring 89 again to engage stud first and rock lever 68 to the left tothe intermediate position shown in. dotted lines.

When the selector registers with releaser I! and I .a transfer occurs, spring 89 will engage stud!!! and rock lever 68 from the full line to the dotted line position of Fig. 7 to locate theflselectorin its midposition. :4.

If the selector is in its rearmostposition in registry with the bobbin releaser l8 asindicated in full lines in Fig. 8 the bottom stud 8l will again be the first to be-engaged byspring 89 during a replenishingv operation and the lever 68 will be rocked forwardly or in a clockwise direction around pivot .69.,1'101II1OV6 the selector to its intermediate position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. -In each of these ,instancesspring 89 engages both studs 80 and 8| to .positionthe-lever 68, and can yield to prevent breakage, as'indicated in.-Figs. 5 to 8 as the transferrer arm reaches its lowest position..-. I

'It will thus be seen that no matter-what position the studs or lugs 88 and BI occupy due to the different positions of the selector 23, operation of the transferrer arm 82 will cause the positioner 85 to move the lever 68 and the selectorjto an intermediate or mid position in which the selector isout of the path of the long stopsv 50 and 60 and the latter if free to do so can fall into the path of the selector. a i

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have indicated diagrammatically how my invention .operates-in'the weaving of a'fabric having wide bands of solid color. In Fig. 9 the unshaded areas correspond to white weft woven by shuttles which is replenished by white bobbins in stacks H and I2, while .the

shaded areas may be colored, such asblue. and

- and shuttle box GL is descending to place shuttle S in action for the weaving of a whiteba'nd or stripe; At this time. selector '23 is moving to the right as indicated by the arrow shown in position I in Fig. 10. 'Under. these conditions stop 45 may be assumed to be up'and when the box GL completes its down shiftspring 32. will register the selector 23 with releaser l5 as indicated in position II, Fig. 10. The first transfer in the weaving of the white band, indicated at 98 in Fig. 9, therefore draws 'a'bobbin from the front stack II and the rstop 48 tends'to fall'as already described and would be prevented from placing the long stop 50 'in'the path of the selector except for the fact'that the latter is moved to its intermediate non-interfering position indicated in dotted lines, position II. When the selector reaches this intermediate position the long stop 58 falls into the path of the selector and when the latter moves forwardly as the transferrer arm rises it engages-long stop 50 and is registered with releaser 16,- see position III, Fig. 10. i The. next transfer'indicated at 9!; Fig.

9 therefore .draws a bobbin from thesecond bobbin drawn from the front-stack .and' long stop 50 again falls into the path of the selector, and as the latter moves forwardly from its :intermediate position it is registered withreleaser 16, see position V, Fig. .10. It may be assumed that a small part'of the white "bandtremains to be woven during which-the selector remains registered with the second stack.

Upon -up shift of the shuttle 'lbOXGS GL to placeShuttle'S-Z in action to weave a b'lue stripe, connector 35 will'be pulled and theselector=will move rearwardly. it may be assumed that stop 55 is up with long stopill out of the selector path, hence the selector will move to its rearmost position in register with releaser I8, see *position VI, Fig. 10. "When the first'trans'fer occurs during weaving of the blue band, as indicated :at'

93," Fig. 9, the selector will move forwardly to its mid position to permit long stop :60 ito .fall. This stretches :spring 36 after which the selector will bepulled back-by spring -36 into register with release f'l-as indicated in position VII, Fig. '10. After the next transienindt cated at.94, Fig. 9, the selector will-againbe registered with the rearmost releaser 18 as indicated in :position VIII,Fi'g. I0. Subsequent tothis lastementioned transfer it may be assumed that only :a-ismall part of the blue b'and remains to vbe iWOVBIl. during which the selector \will :again be =registered with the third releaser H as indicated in position IX, Fig. .10.

Upon the :next downrshifit of *boxes LGL incident to return of :shu'ttle S .to actionlto weave another white band, the selector 23 will tend to ;move to its extreme front position butwill rbe stopped by-the flong stop '50 to register withreleaser 16,

since he'ad 48cihas remainedrin'the same'position from the "associated pair 0f stacks. "Althoughonly three transfers have rheenfldescribedin nonnection with 'weaving 1 a single band of. color, it is apparent "from the foregoing description that the alternate :d'rawingbf bobbins would proceed after the manner :described if more than :three replenishments occurred during the-weaving :of a single band.

Itwill beunderstood that when theflatspring 89 is-usedas .aishock absorber will need to be sufliciently'strong rto overpowerrspring 3-6 *iniconnector 35. When the selector is pu'lled rearwardly nue -to upward shift "of. theshuttle box gang 'GL spring 36 'willsstretch if stop 160 registers :the selector with 'releaser H of the itl'iird stack l3, and the spring-189 mustibe strong enough toefiect a still further stretching of thisspring 36 when the gang "GLis up and the selector moves to its 1 intermediate position.

In the .form of the invention described :hereinbefore the actuating-lever f or the :selector :has been'shown as provided with studs lfor engage ment with the 'leaf spring; Under some conditions it is desirable =to be able :to efiecti:re1a

tive adjustment between'the positioning mechanism and the actuating or placing lever .which locates the selector in mid-position at the :time of transfer. In'order to providesuch adjustment -I use the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16.

Accordingly, lever I00 similar to lever 58 is provided with a, hub Ill! and has integral top and bottom lugs I02 and I03, respectively, cast as integral parts of the lever 10 and reinforced by webs I04 shown more particularly in Fig. 16. The lugs extend forwardly from the front edge [05 of lever 1'00 and are spaced vertically from the hub ID I The'transferrer arm I2 may beconstructedas already set forth and carries a positioning mechanism designatedgenerally at I ID. The positioning-mechanismissecured to the transferrer arm as at H1 in a manner similar to the preferred form of the invention, and is provided with an upwardly projecting arm I 12 in which are located two adjustable abutments H3 and H4 for engagement respectively with the lugs 102 and-I03. These abutments aresimilar toeach other and each comprises a threaded shank H5 tapped into the arm H2 and held in adjusted longitudinal position by a lock nut I16. The rear part of each abutment, or the right end thereof as viewed in Fig, 14, is provided with a head .H'I including in its construction a mass of inherentlyresilient material I I8, such as rubber. This head may be fastened directly to the screw threaded shank H5 by being vulcanized thereto.

The operation of the modified form of the invention is similar to that described'in connection with the preferred form of the'invention with the exception that a more definite positioning of-lever lllflis possibledue to adjustment of theabutments H3 and I l4 relatively to arm H2. The-resilient heads H1 will engage one or the other of the lugs I02 or I 03 for the purpose of moving the lever I00 to intermediate position at each operation of the transferrer arm 12 much in the same vway asset forth in Figs. 5 'to 8. Resilient heads 1-H serve as shock absorbers but are sufficiently .resistant to compression to overcome spring 6 when-the selector is to be moved forwardly from registry with the rear releasers l1 and 18. Adjustment'of the abutments relatively to arm (I I2 facilitates more accurate positioning of the selector-in itsintermediate position than is-possible with leaf spring 89. While I have shown the resilient part of the operating mechanism in this modified form as mounted on the positioning mechanism H0, yet I do not wish necessarily to be limited to this construction, since so far as shock absorbing isconcerned it is sufiicient if one or theother-of the sets of surfaces on lever I00 and arm H2 which engage each other during a transferringoperation be provided with a shock absorber.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a weft replenishin loom o erating with two shuttles to each of which is assigned a Pair of stacks of reserve bobbins and that means are provided for drawing bobbins alternately from so that either of them can iall tostoppi'ng position if free to do so. Furthermore, it will be seen that the selector is controlled by a positioning mechanismroperated by the transferrer arm for the p p se of moving the selector out of interfering position with respect to the stops. Also, the positioning mechanism includes a lever which is free to mov with the selector as the latter is shifted without interference on the part of the arm 85 and spring 89, during non-replenishing periods of operation of the loom. Again, the positioning mechanism serves also as a stop to limit downward movement of the transferrer arm and is preferably provided with a shock absorber which prevents a too abrupt movement of 'the selector by the transferrer arm. When the shock absorber is used it is sufficiently strong to overpower spring 36 through which is transmitted the force by which the selector is moved rearwardly. It will further be noted that in the modifled form of the invention I provide independently adjustable means for engaging the selector positioning lever I and that the abutment I I3 and I M are formed with shock absorbing heads for engagement, with lugs I 02 and I03.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without de partin from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two alternately active shuttles and having a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle and a bobbin releaser for each stack, a releaser selector movable into register with the releasers one at a time, control means acting to move the selector 'to the-fact that the selector is in an interfering position, and-mechanism operated by the loom and efiectiveton lovethe selector to a non-interfering position with respect-to both of said stops.

' tion of operation oi the 'replenishingoperation toward registry with releasers of one pair of stacks when the corresponding shuttle is active and acting to move the selector toward registry with the releasers of the other pair of stacks when the other shuttle is active, a stop for each pair of stacks, each stop capable of assuming two positions in one of which said stop cooperates with said control means to efiect registry of the selectorwith one releaser of the associated pair of stacks, said stop when tending to move to the other position thereof while the selector is registered with said one releaser being prevented by said selector from moving to said other position and said stop when in said other position cooperating with saidcontrol means to effect registry of the selector with theother releaser 'of to 'move into registry'with one of the releasers of the other pair'of releasers corresponding to said other condition of operation, a stop for" each of said conditions of operation and for the corresponding pair of releasers movable into'and out of the path of the selector, each stop when out of the path of the selector permitting the latter to register with'said one of the releasers of the associated pair'of releasers and when in the path of the selector'effecting registry of the latter with the other releaser of the associated pair of releasers, the selector under either condition of operation preventing movement of the corresponding'stop into the path of the selector when the latter is registered with said one releaser of the corresponding condition of operation, and

means operated by the replenishing mechanism tomove' said selector to a position where said selector is incapable of'preventing movement of eitherof said stops into said path of the selector. 4. In a weft replenishing mechanism having two pairs of bobbin releasers and a selector movable along a given path into registry with all of thereleasers one at a time, said selector under "onecondition' of operation of the replenishing mechanism tending to move into registry with one of the releasers of one of said pairs of releasers corresponding to said one condition of operation and said selector tendin under another condition of 'operation of the replenishing operation to move into'regi'stry with one ofthe releasers of the other pair of releasers correspondingto said of'the path of the selector, each stop when out of the path of the selector permitting the latter I to register with said one of the releasers of the the associated pair of stacks. and means operated tor movable along a given path into registry with all of said releasers one at a time, control means eifective during loom operation to move the selector from registry with the releasers of either pair of stacks toward registry with the releasers of the other pair of stacks, a'stop for each pair 0f stacks tending to move'into the path of the selector to cooperate with said control means to effect registry of the selector with one of the releasers of the associated pair'oi stacks but'prevented from moving into said pathbythe selector when the latter has been moved toward the asso I ciated pair of stacksby said control means due associated pairof releasers and when inthe path of the selector effecting registry of the latter with the other releaser of the associated pair of releasers, theselector under either condition of operation when registering with said one releaser of the corresponding'pairof releasers being in position to interfere with movement of the corresponding stop into said given path of the selector, and'transfer' means effective upon each operation thereof to move the selector to a position of noninterference with respect to both of said stops.

5'. In a weft replenishing mechanism having two pairs of-bobbin releasers and a selector movable along a given path into registry with all of the releasers one at a time, said selector under one condition of operation of the replenishing mechanism tending to move into registry with one of the releasers of one of said pairs of releasers corresponding to said one condition of' operation and said selector ,tending underanother condition of operation of the replenishing operationto move'into registry with one of the releasers of the other pair of releasers'correspending to said other condition of operation,

-a stop for each of saidconditions of operation and for the corresponding pair of releasers movable into and out of the path of the selector, each stop when out ofthe path of the selector permitting: the latter'to register with said one of the releasers ofthe associated pair of releasers and when in the path of the .selectoreffecting registry of the latter with the other releaser of the associated .pair of releasers, the selector under either condition of operation when registering with-said'one releaser of the corresponding pair ofreleasers being in position to interfere with movement of ,the corresponding stop into saidgiven path of the selector, a transferrer arm and positioning means for said selector caused by operation of said transferrer arm to move the selector to a position on non-interference with respect to both of said stops.

sponding to said other condition of operation, a

stopfor each of :said conditions of operation and for the correspondingpair of releasers movable into and out of the path of the selector, each .stopwhen out of the path-of the selector permitting the latter to register with said one of the releasers of the associated pair of releasers and when in the path of the selector efiecting registry of the latter withthe otherreleaser of V the associated pair of releasers, the selector under either condition of operation-when registering with said one releaser of-the corresponding pair of releasers being in positionto interfere with movement of the corresponding stop into said given path of the selector, a transferrer arm, alever pivoted on the weft replenishingmechanism and operatively connected to the selector and moving with the latter as the selector-moves to :the vdifierentpositions thereof in registry with the said releasers, and'means operated by the transferrer arm causing said lever to move the selector to a non-interfering position with respect to both of said stops.

7. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two alternately active shuttles and having a pair of stacks of reserve bobbinsvfor each shuttle, eachwstac'k having a bobbin'releaser and-there bein a releaser selector movable along a given path into register with all of said releasers one at a time, control meansfor the selector tending to move the latter first toward the releasers, of one pair of stacks and then toward the releasers of theotherpair ofstackaastop for each shuttle and the corresponding pair of stacks-movable into and out of said path and when out of said path cooperating with said control means to register the selector with one releaser of the associated pair of stacks and when in said path cooperating withsaid control means to register the selector with the other releaser of the associated pair of stacks, and means operative duringa successionof-three or more-replenishing operations of the loom during continued activity of either shuttle to ,JIIOVG the associated stop alternately into and out of the path of the selector.

8. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two alternately active shuttles and having a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, each stack having a bobbin releaser and there being a releaser selector movable along a given path into register with all of said releasers one at a time, control means for the selector tending to move the latter first toward the releasers of one pair of stacks and then toward the releasers of the other pair of stacks, a stop for each pair of stacks movable into and out of said path of the selector and when out of saidpath cooperating with said control means to register the selector with one of the releasers of the associated pair of releasers and when in the path of the selector cooperating with said control means to register the selector with the other releaser of the associated pair of releasers, transfer mechanism, and means operated by the transfer mechanism in cooperation with the control means and during three or more successive transfer operations during continued operation of either shuttle to effect movement of the stop corresponding to the pair of releasers associated with the shuttle alternately into and out of said path of the selector. r

9. In a weft replenishing mechanism includin a plurality of bobbin releasers and a selector movable along a given path into registry with said releasers one at a time, the replenishing mechanism including also bobbin transfer mech-' anism, control means operative under one condition of operation of the replenishing mechanism to move the selector toward an extreme position at one end of said path and operative under a different condition of operation of the replenishing mechanism to move the selector toward another extrem position at the other end of said path, and positioning means operated by the bobbin transfer mechanism to move the selector to a position intermediate the extreme positions thereof. 7

10. In a weft replenishing mechanism including a plurality of bobbin releasers and a selector movable along a given path into registry with said releasers one at a time, the replenishing mechanism including also bobbin transfer mechanism, control means operative under one condition of operation of the replenishing mechanism to move the selector toward one extreme position thereof at one end of said path and operative under a different condition of operation of replenishing mechanism to move the selector toward another extreme position thereof at the opposite end of said path, a positioning lever operatively connected to the selector, and means operated by the bobbin transfer mechanism causing the lever upon each operation of the transfer mechanism to move said selector-to a position intermediate the extreme positions thereof.

11. In a weft replenishing mechanism having two pairs of bobbin releasers, a releaser selector movable into registry with said roleasers one at a time, control meanstending first to move said selector toward an extreme position in register with a releaser of one of the pairs of releasers and then tending to move the selector in the opposite direction toward another extreme position in register with a releaser of the other pair of releasers, bobbin transfer mechanism, and means operated by the transfer mechanism effective to move said selector to an intermedi ate position between said extreme positions thereof.

-12. In a weft replenishing mechanism having two pairs, of bobbin releasers and a releaser lever having provision for pivotal support and having an operating connection for the selector and having spaced means for engagement with the positioner.

14. An operating lever for the bobbin releaser selector of a weft replenishing loom having a transferrer arm provided with a positioner, the

selector having a collar thereon, said lever having provision for pivotal support and. having a stud for cooperation with the selector collar and having also a. pair of studs located on opposite sides of the provision for pivotal support,

said studs being located for engagement with said positioner.

' 15. A positioner for a bobbin releaser selector operating lever having a pair of spaced studs and adapted for use in a weft replenishing loom having a transferrer arm, said positioner comprising a base for attachment to the transferrer arm and a spring having free ends for engagement with the studs on said operating lever.

16.A positioner for the bobbin releaser selector operating lever of a weft replenishing loom having a transferrer arm, said positioner comprising a base having provision for attachment to the transferrer arm and having a pair of independently adjustable abutments carried by the base for engagement with parts of the operating lever. 17. A positioner for the bobbin releaser selector operating lever of a weft replenishing loom having a transferrer arm, said positioner comprising a base having provision for attachment to the transferrer arm and having a pair of independently adjustable abutmentscarried by the base for engagement with parts of the operating lever, said abutments including in' their construction inherently resilient members for engagement with the operating lever.

I WILFRED C. HOWE. 

